From studies to startup
Many German universities support students who have an idea for a startup. We introduce you to some interesting programmes.
Starting a new business is something that can be learnt. The green tech company Ineratec from Karlsruhe reveals how: After spending ten years conducting basic research at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), the four entrepreneurs developed alternatives to petroleum products. KIT supported the spin-off in 2016. At the same time, KIT came on board as an investor and, in its capacity as owner, licences the young firm’s patents.
Lectures and seminars for both bachelor’s and master’s students at KIT help budding entrepreneurs prepare their startups: How are business plans created and products developed? Through cooperation with Shanghai Jiao Tong University, a summer school offers the chance to work on a business model in German-Chinese tandems.
Supporting international talents
At the KIT-Gründerschmiede startup centre, international business talents can familiarise themselves with the institute’s start-up ecosystem, check the feasibility of their ideas and get to know Germany. Technology-based projects are supported in the areas of energy and mobility.
The Technical University of Munich (TUM), which supervises more than 50 patent applications per year and produces over 75 startups, has an innovation centre to support future entrepreneurs. UnternehmerTUM GmbH provides advice on matters such as the legal form a startup should take, business plans and setting up a team.
Advice at startup centres and incubators
International entrepreneurs are targeted by the programme TUM Global Deep Tech Venture Initiative . The Munich Global Impact Hub (MGI Hub) offers a half-year programme that is supported by Munich’s three universities (TUM, Munich University of Applied Sciences and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität) and their entrepreneurship centres. To qualify for the programme, the business model should be related to deep tech and at least one team member should not have German citizenship.
RWTH Aachen University is the university in Germany that produces the most startups by far. Young entrepreneurs receive both practical and academic advice at the university’s centres and incubators.
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